Articles | Case Studies | Concept Tour

In the course of our work, we are frequently approached by landowners who are interested in exploring conservation options for their land. Many of these are individuals whose land has been in their family for a long time. Some feel a need to sell for development in order to finance their retirement or raise needed cash. Some express a powerful attachment to the land and concern about its future.

We have also become aware of the very difficult burden that current federal tax laws place on property owners throughout the country. As aptly put by attorney Stephen Small in his book Preserving Family Lands, “For the first time in the history of the United states, the family that just wants to leave its land to the children may not be able to do that. The land may have to be sold to pay the estate tax.”

Many landowners across the country are finding that planning in advance is essential to avoid a forced sale of the land. Many also find that outright sale for development may actually result in less financial benefit to the property owner. Greater benefits may be realized through a balanced plan that incorporates a range of tools, such as sale or donation to a conservation organization, dedication of conservation easements, and use of very limited development to finance conservation of the rest of the property.

In the course of our technical assistance efforts, recommendations have been made to landowners that they consult with their attorney, an appraiser, and a landscape architect to assess the future of their property and the potential financial implications. It is difficult, however, for a lay property owner to ask the right questions and coordinate several professionals working together to arrive at a range of possible solutions — especially if their consultants have had little experience with the range of options available today.

The Countryside Program has received funding from the George Gund and Cleveland Foundations to address these issues through a pilot study in conservation planning for landowners. The study is providing conservation planning assistance to four landowners in the Northeast Ohio region. The basic conservation planning approach marries the expertise of a land planner, land appraiser, financial analyst, and land conservation specialist to take a balanced, holistic approach to planning for family lands.

Four scenarios are being evaluated for each property:

1) 100% conservation;

2) the minimum development necessary to cover the costs of conserving the property;

3) a somewhat greater limited development approach, to generate additional cash the family might need; and

4) informal evaluation of a maximum development approach, according to the conservation development principles developed by the Countryside Program. In the course of the study, training for the professionals involved will be sought from an expert doing this work elsewhere. A public workshop is planned to allow as many as possible to benefit from the training

Through the Conservation Planning Assistance study, we hope to provide landowners with more information to help them make the best decision possible about the future of their land — to meet their goals for a balance of conservation and development. If the study is successful, it is hoped the program could be expanded in future years to help make high-quality, realistic, land-based conservation services available to everyone who needs them.